The Thrill of Vert Skateboarding
Vert skateboarding is a thrilling and dangerous sport that involves skateboarding on a vertical ramp, with heights ranging from 10 to 16 feet. The sport has a long history dating back to the 1970s when the first vertical ramps were built. Judging Vert skateboarding is a way to give credit where it’s due.
Since then, it has evolved into an extreme sport that challenges skaters to perform the most difficult tricks while soaring through the air. Vert skating requires a combination of skill, balance, speed, and courage.
Skaters must be able to maintain their balance while performing aerial maneuvers at high speeds. They must also have a deep understanding of how their skateboard works in order to execute complex tricks with precision.
The Importance of Judging in Competitions
Judging is an essential element of any sporting competition as it determines who emerges as the winner. In vert skateboarding competitions, judging is especially crucial as skaters are evaluated based on their performance and overall execution.
The judges play an important role in ensuring that each skater’s performance is fairly evaluated according to established criteria. They use their expertise and experience to assess each skater’s run based on factors such as height and amplitude of tricks, difficulty level, execution, and style.
In addition to determining who wins the competition, judging also provides valuable feedback for competitors as they strive to improve their skills and techniques. Ultimately, it is through effective judging that vert skateboarding can continue to evolve and push boundaries in terms of what is possible on a skateboard ramp.
Basic Judging Criteria
Vert skateboarding is a unique and exhilarating sport that requires a great deal of skill and athleticism. As in any sport, there are certain criteria that judges use to evaluate competitors’ performances. In vert skateboarding competitions, these criteria include height and amplitude of tricks, difficulty level, execution, and style.
Height and Amplitude of Tricks: One of the most important factors that judges take into account when scoring a skater’s run is the height and amplitude of their tricks. This refers to how high the skater is able to launch themselves off the ramp, as well as how much distance they cover during each trick.
The higher and more extended a trick is, the more points it will earn. Difficulty Level: Another key factor in judging vert skateboarding competitions is the difficulty level of each trick.
Skaters are encouraged to push themselves to attempt increasingly challenging maneuvers throughout their runs. Judges award higher scores for tricks that are more complex or have never been seen before in competition.
Execution and Style: Of course, it’s not just about attempting difficult tricks – skaters must also execute them with precision and style in order to impress the judges. Clean landings with minimal wobbling or hesitation are crucial for earning high scores.
Additionally, judges pay attention to a skater’s overall style – do they have a unique approach or flair that sets them apart from their competitors? All of these factors contribute to a skater’s score in vert skateboarding competitions.
Specific Tricks and Techniques
Explosive Tricks for Maximum Height
When it comes to vert skateboarding, big air is king. The most explosive and powerful tricks tend to score the highest points as judges take height and amplitude into consideration.
Among the most popular tricks in this category are the McTwist, 540, and backside air. The McTwist is a 540-degree spin with a front flip, invented by Mike McGill in the early 80s.
It’s still used as one of the most impressive tricks today due to its technical difficulty and high level of risk. The 540 is another classic trick where skaters spin their boards around mid-air while simultaneously rotating their bodies.
It’s generally performed with a grab, adding an extra layer of difficulty as riders need to maintain control while executing multiple movements at once. The backside air is also a standard trick where riders launch off one wall of the ramp and rotate their body 180 degrees before landing on the other side.
How Judges Score Each Trick
Each judge typically assigns scores based on three key criteria: difficulty level, execution, and style. For example, if we focus on executing McTwist comparisons between two riders who both successfully land it can be difficult because they might execute it differently (e.g., more extended or less extended), so judges will evaluate nuances like these as well. Difficulty level refers to how challenging a trick is relative to others performed during the run – judges assign higher scores for more technically demanding stunts executed flawlessly with good style.
Execution focuses on how well tricks are performed; clean landings without wobbling or sketchy moments earn high scores from judges. Style refers to each skater’s unique personality expressed through their movements – some might be graceful while others emphasize power or speed.
Unique Factors in Vert Skateboarding Competitions
Vert skateboarding competitions are judged differently from other types of skateboarding events because of the unique factors involved. In addition to height, amplitude, difficulty level, execution, and style, judges consider transitions between tricks, use of the entire ramp, and flow and consistency throughout the run. These factors are essential elements in determining a skater’s overall performance.
Importance of Transitions Between Tricks
Transitions between tricks are critical because they highlight a skater’s ability to move seamlessly from one trick to another. It is not enough to merely execute each trick perfectly; skaters must also demonstrate their ability to link together multiple tricks with smooth transitions. Judges look for creativity and innovation in transitions as well as technical skill.
A good transition can add significant points to a skater’s score, whereas awkward or choppy transitions can hurt it. Therefore, it is crucial for competitors to plan their routines carefully and practice them extensively before competing at the highest level.
Use of the Entire Ramp
Another factor that sets vert skateboarding apart from other types of skateboarding is that competitors must make use of the entire ramp during their runs. Judges watch closely to see if skaters can maintain their speed while moving smoothly from one section of the ramp to another.
Effective use of the entire ramp shows judges that a skater has control over their board while also demonstrating skill and creativity. Skaters who consistently utilize all parts of the ramp without losing momentum will earn higher scores than those who stick too closely to one area or struggle with transitions.
Flow and Consistency Throughout The Run
Judges evaluate flow and consistency throughout a competitor’s routine. This means looking at how smoothly they move through each trick as well as evaluating whether they maintain momentum throughout their run.
Skaters who can maintain their speed and flow while executing a variety of tricks will score higher than those who struggle to maintain consistency. Judges are looking for skaters who can make their routine look like one smooth, continuous run rather than a series of isolated tricks.
The ability to maintain flow and consistency requires excellent balance, concentration, and body control. Overall, these unique factors make vert skateboarding competitions especially challenging and exciting to watch.
Competitors must be both technically skilled and creatively innovative while also demonstrating excellent transitions, use of the entire ramp, and flow throughout their routines. Judges have the difficult task of evaluating these elements to determine a winner in each competition.
Controversies in Judging
Judging vert skateboarding competitions is a subjective process, which means different judges may score the same run differently. The scoring system is based on each judge’s individual opinion, and sometimes this can lead to disputes among competitors and fans.
One of the main controversies in judging is the issue of subjectivity and personal bias among judges. Each judge has their preferences when it comes to style and execution, which can influence their scores.
Some judges may favor technical tricks over big airs, while others place more emphasis on creativity and flow. This can be frustrating for skaters who feel that they are being judged unfairly based on personal biases.
Subjectivity and Personal Bias Among Judges
The issue of subjectivity is not unique to vert skateboarding competitions; it’s a problem that affects all judged sports. However, in skateboarding, personal bias can play an even bigger role because there are no set rules or guidelines for what constitutes a “good” trick or run.
This gives judges a lot of discretion in how they score each performance. One possible solution to this problem is to have more diverse judging panels that include people with different backgrounds and perspectives.
This could help balance out any biases or preferences that individual judges might have. Additionally, implementing clear guidelines for how tricks should be scored could make the process more objective.
Disagreements Among Competitors and Fans
Another controversy in judging vert skateboarding competitions is the disagreements that often arise between competitors and fans about who should have won. Fans may feel strongly about certain skaters or runs, leading them to argue with others about whether a particular performance was scored fairly or not.
Competitors themselves may also disagree with the scores they receive or with those given to other skaters. This can create tension between athletes who feel like they were robbed of a win or unfairly penalized for a mistake.
Overall, the subjectivity of judging is something that will likely continue to be a source of controversy in vert skateboarding competitions. However, by implementing clear guidelines and creating more diverse judging panels, we can work towards making the process fairer and more objective.
Conclusion
Vert skateboarding competitions are judged based on several key criteria. The height and amplitude of tricks, difficulty level, execution and style are all important factors that judges consider when evaluating a skater’s performance. Additionally, specific tricks and techniques like the McTwist or backside air are scored based on their level of difficulty and execution.
However, there are also unique factors in vert skateboarding competitions that judges take into account. For example, the transitions between tricks, use of the entire ramp, and flow and consistency throughout the run can all impact a skater’s overall score.
Judges strive to be as objective as possible but subjectivity can still be an issue in competitions. Despite controversies surrounding judging at times, vert skateboarding remains an incredibly exciting sport for both competitors and fans alike.
It takes a lot of skill to execute these gravity-defying moves while also maintaining control and style. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out with skating yourself, it’s clear that there is much to appreciate about this adrenaline-fueled sport that has captivated audiences for decades.
